Bloggin 'Bout Books Blog

I thought I would love Shiver, but it fell a little short for me. However, I'm so glad I gave this author a second chance with The Scorpio Races. Now I can't wait to try The Raven Boys.  Maggie Stiefvater (pronounced Steve-Otter, as she will sing to you ) has published seven novels and featured in four short stories anthology. Three of her books have been optioned for films, although one option (Shiver) has lapsed.  Stiefvater grew up in Virgina, and she lives there now with her family. She has been a wedding musician, a technical editor, a portrait artist (primarily for horses!) and a waitress. She still makes art and music along with writing. She also creates the trailers for each of her books. Basically, she can do everything. Well, maybe not everything, but she's still got a pretty cool list of accomplishments.  I find Stiefvater's writing to be emotional and vibrant. The Scorpio Races drew me in quickly, and I felt so connected to both the worl...

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater is a stunning addition to the Young Adult genre. Stiefvater writes the tale in two viewpoints, but she does a stellar job of making the two voices unique.  The novel follows the dual narratives of Sean Kendrick and Puck (Katie) Connolly. Sean works at a stables on the island, and Katie finds herself trying to take care of her brothers in the aftermath of her parents deaths. The book follows that years Scorpio Races, a time when water horses emerge from the sea and the brave wrangle one and train it to race with it. It's a month of blood and death and nerves.  I honestly didn't think I would like it. I don't particularly like horses--I kind of just feel ambivalent about them--and I didn't really enjoy Shiver--the other Stiefvater novel I've read. This one blew my expectations out of the water. I was hesitant at first because there was a lot of horse related description and terminology that I didn't really care ...

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater was a bit of a let-down.  Shiver is the first in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. It's a dual narrative, switching perspective between Grace and Sam. Sam is a werewolf--but not your traditional werewolf. He can't switch back and forth at will. His change is forced by the cold. Grace is a human who has been in love with the wolves around her house since she was attacked as a child. An accident brings them together, and once they're together they're unwilling to let each other go. I'm not sure why exactly Shiver didn't do it for me. I mean, I was promised werewolves, but that was a little lacking. The entire book is more about Grace and Sam's love for each other than the fact that there are werewolves. I mean, I was promised a love story, and I wasn't super enthusiastic about that either. It felt a little bit contrived. And it was based around a little bit of a hero-loving complex.  Overall, I just felt a litt...